LAHORE – The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday condemned the unanimous resolution passed in a full court reference of the Supreme Court (SC) in favour of appointment of Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and Justice Rehmat Jafri as ad-hoc judges for one more year.
During a press conference, SCBA President Asma Jahangir said that bars were showing strong resentment against the resolution and by adopting a resolution for appointment of ad-hoc judges, judges have taken a political step and lawyers would also handle the case politically. Asma said that there should be a difference between a trade union, political party, bar council and judiciary. She said that such acts did not suit the judiciary, as they were against its own decisions.
The SCBA president said that one should practice what one preaches. She urged the federal government not to adopt the policy of leniency in making appointments of judges. Asma said that although resolutions passed by the full court have no legal authority and could not make appointments, but judges should think before taking such steps. The renowned human rights activist said that she avoids uttering such words, which would hurt feelings of the judiciary, but in this matter one of the beneficiary judges was also present in the meeting, which did not suit judges.
She said that so many references are pending in the bars and ad-hoc judge could only be appointed in case of an emergency and when there was a dire need of ad-hoc judges. Asma said that appointing a judge on ad-hoc basis would ruin the image of the judiciary. The SCBA president said that bars would resist the decision once it would be debated by the judicial commission to finalise the appointments.
The renowned human rights activist said that she respects Ramday for one or two good judgments but his presence in the bench is considered humiliating to both lawyers and litigants. She said that additional judges should be confirmed while the SC should review its resolution for appointment of ad-hoc judges.
